A Peculiar Indifference

“A smart, timely, deeply disturbing and essential book by a veteran scholar and leading expert on the criminal legal system . . . Currie’s book is the first comprehensive study to present a meta-analysis of peer-reviewed research—a study of studies—showing how anti-Black racism in the form of state and private violence upholds ‘an essentially exploitative and discriminatory social order' . . . This is not a Black crisis but a national emergency.”—Khalil Gibran Muhammad, The New York Times Book Review

“Jaw-dropping . . . The most powerful takeaway from A Peculiar Indifference is that to prove once and for all that Black lives matter, Americans must stop ignoring the violence devastating Black communities.”—The Progressive

"An infuriatingly necessary read . . . What Currie's numbers show is a crisis with no signs of abating. Especially as long as the country turns a blind eye to it."—PopMatters

“For too many Americans, reports of lethal violence in black communities evoke momentary concern but then are quickly dismissed as incidents that occur in ‘those neighborhoods.’ Elliott Currie boldly confronts this peculiar indifference, conveying tragic stories of unjust suffering and stunning statistics about the high cost of living in fear. Most important, he debunks any excuses for inaction, presenting ambitious but practical ways to make black lives matter. A distinguished scholar long concerned about crime and racial inequality, Currie has written a compelling book that reflects both his brilliant mind and compassionate heart. Simply put, A Peculiar Indifference is a contemporary classic.”—Francis T. Cullen, past president of the American Society of Criminology

“Elliott Currie writes like James Baldwin and embraces the public morality of William Barber. A Peculiar Indifference brilliantly reminds America of the many economic, education, public health, and criminal justice reforms needed—and proven—to reduce violence, inequality, poverty, and racial injustice. It enjoins the citizenry to seize the day, reframe the public discourse, rewrite the social contract, and acknowledge that ‘normal’ is the problem.”—Alan Curtis, president of the Eisenhower Foundation

“A damning examination of violence in black America and a call for intervention that is long overdue . . . Meticulously researched and densely packed with stats and studies, Currie’s book paints a heartbreaking picture, but it also makes an urgent case for bold measures to turn the tide in black communities.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)